“No car chase” – Joe Bryan update with Fulham in the driving seat

Joe Bryan of Bristol City during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Birmingham City at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England on 7 May 2017. Photo by Andrew Lewis.

The Bristol Post have reported that a deal for Joe Bryan that will see the left-back move to Fulham appears to be very much on, despite rumours he’d signed for Aston Villa last night, and was being chased down the motorway by Steve Bruce.

Supposedly a fee had been agreed between Bristol City and Aston Villa over an initial £5m deal that would have risen to £6m after various add-ons, but after the defender had completed both personal terms and a medical at Villa, he had a change of heart after a late show of interest by Premier League Fulham.

Contrary to rumours that had floated around on Twitter, the Bristol Post have confirmed that Bruce didn’t chase Bryan down the M40 and the player hadn’t taken photos in Villa kits – despite heavy speculation that had been the case, and the fact that he hadn’t signed a contract with the club means now that he’s expected to move to Fulham today, with Slavisa Jokanovic set to get his man.

Fulham have been chasing a left-back over the course of this transfer window, but they ended up with a fruitless chase for Southampton’s young left-back Matt Targett; which in turn alerted them to making a move for Bristol City full-back Bryan.

Bryan has opted to play Premier League football next campaign; rather than sticking with Championship Bristol City or making a ‘sideways step’ to last season’s play-off finalists Aston Villa, who ultimately missed out somewhat ironically to Fulham, on a place in the Premier League this season.